Comments on: How to: Three-Plant Air Lift Window Farm

By: maya

maya — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:13:42 +0000

Hi Annbird and all. This is Britta writing as Maya (we are working through glitches on multiple fronts at the moment. Please go easy on us!).

I have created a new thread on airlift troubleshooting here, but here’s what it says.

First, if you have not done so already, notice that the post up top is updated and there is a new version of the how-to with more friendly advice on how to build a fool-proof airlift.
1) Please download the new instructions.
2) Visit the new airlift troubleshooting post here.

No one said a collective R&D process was going to be painless! However, I do convey my deepest condolences and empathy to the rest of you who are also on the front lines of failed experiments. Deep breath. We will all get through this together.

Also, It is so much easier to SEE what should be adjusted. IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH YOUR SYSTEM, PLEASE CREATE A NEW POST AND UPLOAD PICTURES OF THE PARTS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, TAG IT AIRLIFT TROUBLESHOOTING, & THEN JUST LINK TO THE POST HERE.

By: annbird

annbird — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:32:41 +0000

Hi, all,

I see a lot of questions here in the comments about pumps not being powerful enough to lift the water to the top of the system, but I see no answers/responses. Can someone please help us out? I just put my system together using all of the recommended parts, but the water is not getting to the top of my system either. In fact, it’s barely making it up to the first plant. I’m using the Petco pump for a 13-106 gallon aquarium. I suspect that air is leaking out where the air pump needles have punctured the air lift tube, but I don’t know how to correct this. A guy in a garden store near me recommended a wey… anyone know how to use one of those instead of the air pump needles? Thanks for your assistance.

By: bcurd

bcurd — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:56:45 +0000

Hey Britta,
I am waiting for the new upload. You said it was suppose to be yesterday, but the file doesn’t seem to be updated. Do you know when it will be?

By: bennett4senate

bennett4senate — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:55:25 +0000

Hey Britta – I just tried to download the updated PDF (twice), but the resulting download is six blank pages… not sure if it is a problem with the PDF you’re hosting or a version issue on my end, but FYI.

By: maureen

maureen — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:53:47 +0000

I started off wanting to build the more complicated Window Farm but it was becoming too expensive and bulky – so I’ve decided to work with the airlift system so I could learn and later expand. I am currently stuck on the air pump – I’m not getting enough power either. I am currently working with the Elite 801 air pump. This pump has only one air outlet so I have just one tube and air needle going into the air lift tube and it’s just not doing the trick. Do I need to try a different air pump or is there a way to work with the one I have?

By: ruji

ruji — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:01:45 +0000

to the admin’s of the site – seems like a wonderful idea, thank you. i’m excited to start, but it seems like a lot of users are having problems with the pumps. for those having problems, has a solution been found? it would be useful to have actual part numbers as well (primarily for the pump).

thanks so much.

By: emdelem

emdelem — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:32:33 +0000

So I’m ready to give this a go- but I’m thinking that maybe I can try altering/simplify the system so that I don’t need to use a pump-airlift…Just an extra bottle at the top to feed the nutrient water? how much water should go through this system in a 12 or 24 hour time frame? Anyone have any suggestions

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inverter solar power — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:17:01 +0000

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By: Ryan D

Ryan D — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:48:41 +0000

Man, I was really excited to get this going in our home, but WOW….what a hassle of a project so far. Anyone have any ideas why the pump would not push the water up the system. I can’t seem to get the water higher than just over a foot above it’s intake. I’ve already invested 10x the amount of time driving around returning the 3w pump, the 4w pump…trying other different materials that would allow me to see the whole process….it’s just not moving the water. Any thoughts?? My wife is going to leave me if she hears any more of this EZ “readymade” project. HELP

By: Cassie

Cassie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:59:22 +0000

First of all I just wanna say, this rules!

I read about this online about a week ago, and the next day I went out and bought everything I needed and came home and built it. I have it up and running and I just planted the seeds. I’m just waiting for a few weeks to see some action.
I have just a few questions though…

1.) If only the bottom of the bottles are covered and sun light still comes in through the top, how is photosynthesis prevented?
2.) Do I need just a few drops of water coming down constantly, or should it be at a higher pressure?
3.) (I’m new at gardening in general, so this might seem like an obvious question..) I might have put more seeds then necessary in the tree bark starter cubes…could this prevent the plant from growing, or should it be okay?
And last, 4.) Would using a homemade liquid compost (like blending egg shells, coffee grinds, and fruit and vegetable scraps with water) be just as efficient, or should I stick with a store brand nutrient base…?

Thank for the instructions on building this, it is a really cool idea and it is awesome to teach people how to be able to do urban and indoor gardening!